Saint
Theodora
is one of the living miracles in Greece. (Vasta
of Megalopolis)
In
the green-clad gully, near Vasta village, there certainly has been a
miracle.
Whether it is created by God or nature we
are unable to tell. On the roof of the small church of Saint Theodora
seventeen bigger and smaller trees (holm-oaks, maples and other) have grown in
an impressive way embracing and supporting the temple. Their roots are
invisible both on the outside and in the inside of the church. Perhaps they
run through the stone-built walls and constitute a miracle of nature, perhaps,
a devine hand has woven and maintained their clustering.
Tradition goes that there was the catholicon of a
monastery hear and Saint Theodora who had been born in the area of Ancient
Melpia was buried there. In Byzantine years the poverty of her family and the
lack of a boy who would be recruited led her to join the army presenting her
self like a man-soldier. When she was accused and convicted unfairly for some
scandal, she asked to pray and her prayer was: «Lord,
make trees grow on my grave which will bear witness of your protection and let
my blood be the water to water them».
There is no written
evidence about the time when the one-aisle basilica of Saint
Theodora was built, it was probably a building of the 12th
century. Traces of hagiographies are preserved in the interior, which prove
that it had been decorated. Below the foundation there are springs of
drinkable water which is considered by the faithfull to be holy water.
From Petros Sarantakis
This little church was build
somewhere between the 11th and the 12th century.
This church has 17 trees on
the roof, each tree weight over a ton.
The ground isn't solid enough
for those trees to be placed.
Another unexplained
phenomenon is the underground water which flows from the church and
beyond.
But the part I can describe
with my own eyes, is that nowhere you'll find a root from the trees inside
the church.
Many research has been made,
even with X rays to find wherever the roots are inside the walls of the
church, but its not.
I forgot to mention that the
trees height are almost 30 meters!
Now imagine a tiny church not
more than 3x2 meters having 17 trees on the roof of each weights 1 ton (or
maybe more if you calculate also the weight of the leaves for each season,
and weather conditions such wind and stormes), 30 meters height, since
12th century, without any physical explanation or damage.
Thats gotta be a miracle!!
According to the myth,
Theodora was a young girl who joined the army disguised as a man, since
she had no brothers and her father was too old to join in.
Apparently another young girl
fell in love with Theodora (thought she was a man) and told their
commander that she was pregnant from Theodora.
Then the commander offer to
Theodora two choices:
Marry the young woman, or
sacrifice herself.
Obviously Theodora couldn't
marry the other girl.
Her faith in God was huge, so
before her death, she spoke to the god and said...
"Let my body become a church
My blood a river
My hair the forest"
From Stelios Kritikakis
Agia Theodora -
Das Wunder von Vasta
I Eklisia *Agia
Theodora*
Die Legende der Heiligen Theodora
Theodora war ein sehr gläubige Griechin die damals als Mann getarnt zum
Militär ging (weshalb auch immer?)
Eines Tages verliebte sich ein eine junge Frau in sie, in der Annahme das
Theodora ja ein Mann sei.
Da sie Theodora unbedingt heiraten wollte log sie ihren Vater, einen hohen
Offizier, an und erzählte ihm das sie von Theodora schwanger sei.
Der Offizier stellte Theodora nun vor die Wahl, entweder sie würde seine
Tochter heiraten oder man würde sie töten.
Natürlich konnte Theodora sie nicht heiraten und wurde daher hingerichtet.
Ihr Glauben aber an Gott war so stark das sie bevor sie starb zu ihm sprach
und ihre letzten Worte waren:
*Mein Körper soll zu einer Kirche werden*
*Meine Haare zu einem Wald*
*Mein Blut zu einem Fluß*
Und so entstand
diese WUNDERvolle Kapelle.
So hat es mir eine sehr gute griechische Freundin erzählt und ich hoffe das
ich es so einigermassen richtig wiedergegeben habe.
Im Internet findet man leider relativ wenig über *Agia Theodora* und in
Büchern wird so gut wie gar nichts berichtet.
Ich habe bis jetzt nur eine sehr gute Homepage in englischer und griechischer
Sprache über *Agia Theodora* gefunden. www.neromylos-nikola.gr/Agia_Theodora.htm
